MAYOR HAYS: Done in 2012?

  • MAYOR HAYS: Done in 2012?

Scott Miller, a North Little Rock School Board member and former Argenta News operator, loves a news scoop.

Advertisement

He said on Facebook last night that he has one and that report was bracketed for me with an independent report of the same information from another North Little Rock politico who usually has his finger on the northside pulse.

Too early to call Mayor Pat Hays himself, but Scott says:

Advertisement

Mayor Hays is NOT running for re-election next Fall according to two sources in City Hall. Look for the newspaper article soon. Reportedly Joe Smith, the NLR City Commerce Director will be running for the Mayor’s office.

Pat Hays has been playing it coy about re-election next year after what seems like a century in the office. The recent sales tax election was seen by many as something of a proxy on another re-election bid by Hays. Two proposals were narrowly defeated.

State Rep. Tracy Steele has all but made official his candidacy regardless of Hays’ decision. I’ve had my quarrels about Steele, particularly his paying himself a handsome salary to lead a private foundation that spends most of its money on Steele’s salary and depends on contributions from corporate entities that happen to also find it useful to stay friendly with an Arkansas legislator. I don’t have any reason to believe he’d operate any differently as mayor. Commented one of my correspondents, however:

Advertisement

I know you have issues with Tracy, but I think he’s at least one who cares about people in the “crescent” as I call it. Rose City up E. Washington along the river to Baring Cross, Amboy and Levy. The good ole boys downtown are all a’twitter about having to beat Tracy because he’ll end their playtime.

Potential issue: The Argenta City Club, a group of Hays’ movers and shakers and a building looked after by the city for their use.

UPDATE: I caught up with the mayor after lunch.

Advertisement

“I appreciate Scott Miller sharing what hasn’t been decided yet,” said the mayor (jovially). He said he was sticking for now with what he’d said before: “I’m running until I say otherwise.”

He said, “to be candid,” that the fact that he’d served almost 24 years and that he was nearing 65 were both factors in considering what he might do next year. He said he’d set a deadline of the first half of January to decide what he planned to do and to communicate it. “Over the holidays I’m going to give it some real serious thought,” he said.

Advertisement

UPDATE II: Meanwhile, a statement rolls in from occasional NLR candidate and gadfly Bubba Lloyd, who says he might consider a mayoral race in 2012:

Be a Part of the Fight

Step up and make a difference by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times, the progressive, alternative newspaper in Little Rock that's been fighting for truth for 50 years. Our tough, determined, and feisty journalism has earned us over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, all of whom value our commitment to holding the powerful accountable. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing or donating, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be supporting our efforts to hire more writers and expand our coverage. Join us in the fight for truth by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times today.

Previous article Obama follows Bush on morning-after pill Next article GQ on the WM3